AKAI MPK225 User Guide
User Guide
English
Manual Version 1.0
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................. 5
Box Contents............................................................................................. 5
Support ...................................................................................................... 5
Quick Setup / Connection Diagram ........................................................... 6
About Modes ................................................................................................ 7
Preset Mode ................................................................................................. 8
Edit Mode.................................................................................................... 10
Keyboard ................................................................................................. 11
Pads ........................................................................................................ 12
Assignable Knobs .................................................................................... 14
Assignable Switches ............................................................................... 15
Tap Tempo .............................................................................................. 17
Transport Controls .................................................................................. 18
Note Repeat ............................................................................................ 18
(Click a chapter/section to jump to it.)
Arpeggiator .............................................................................................. 19
Pitch-Bend Wheel ................................................................................... 20
Modulation Wheel ................................................................................... 20
Footswitch Input ...................................................................................... 21
Expression Pedal Input ........................................................................... 21
Global Mode ............................................................................................... 22
MIDI Channels ......................................................................................... 23
Note Display ............................................................................................ 23
Keyboard ................................................................................................. 23
Pads ........................................................................................................ 24
Tempo ..................................................................................................... 24
Clock ....................................................................................................... 25
SysEx ....................................................................................................... 25
Utilities ..................................................................................................... 25
Save Globals ........................................................................................... 25
OS ............................................................................................................ 25
Program Change Mode ............................................................................. 26
Program Change ..................................................................................... 27
Program Change with Bank Change ...................................................... 27
Features ...................................................................................................... 28
Top Panel ................................................................................................ 28
Rear Panel ............................................................................................... 32
Appendix ..................................................................................................... 34
Mode Parameters .................................................................................... 34
Technical Specifications ......................................................................... 42
Trademarks and Licenses ....................................................................... 43
Introduction
Box Contents
MPK225
USB Cable
Quickstart Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual
Support
For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information,
etc.) and product registration, visit akaipro.com/mpk225.
For additional product support, visit akaipro.com/support.
5
(op
)
Quick Setup / Connection Diagram
Wall Power
tional
Important note for Mac OS X users: The first time you connect MPK225 to your computer,
you will see a Keyboard Setup Assistant message saying that your keyboard cannot be
identified. Do not click Continue. Instead, close the window by clicking the circle in the
upper-left corner. If you see another window asking you to select your type of keyboard, select
ANSI (United States and others) and click Done.
Note: If you do not want to use a computer in your setup, you have two options:
To use MPK225 to control an external MIDI module, connect MPK225's power input to a
power outlet using an optional power adapter (6V DC, 1A, center-positive, sold separately).
To use MPK225 to control an app on an iOS device, connect MPK225's USB Port to an iOS
device using an Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (sold separately), and power on MPK225
while holding down the Preview button.
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Computer
Sustain Pedal or Footswitch
(optional)
Expression Pedal
(optional)
External MIDI Sound Module
(optional)
Items not listed under the Box Contents are sold separately.
About Modes
The MPK225 has four different modes of operation. Enter each mode by pressing its
corresponding button. These modes are described in detail in their respective chapters (click
the name of the mode to jump to its chapter).
Preset Mode lets you to load, save, copy, and rename Presets—collections of
information about how the knobs, buttons, and pads will behave.
Edit Mode lets you to edit MPK225's configuration—how the keyboard, pads,
knobs, buttons, and other features behave. See the Appendix: Mode
Parameters section for a complete list of editable parameters.
Global Mode lets you set parameters and make changes to MPK225's general
("global") functioning—behavior and settings that are not specific to a Preset.
See the Appendix: Mode Parameters section for a complete list of editable
settings.
Program Change Mode lets you send various Program Change messages,
letting you remotely switch to a different program bank of sounds in your
software or external MIDI device. See the Appendix: Mode Parameters
section for a complete list of editable settings.
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Preset Mode
In Preset Mode, you can load, save, copy, and rename Presets. A Preset is a
collection of information about how the knobs, buttons, and pads will behave.
Using Presets allows you to save different configurations so you can load them
quickly without reprogramming the MPK225 every time. This is also the default
"performance mode."
To load a Preset:
1. Press Preset to enter Preset Mode.
2. Turn the Value Dial to select the desired Preset, which will appear in the display.
3. To load the selected Preset, press the Value Dial.
To cancel the operation and return to the current Preset, press Preset or just wait a few
seconds.
To edit a Preset, please see the Edit Mode chapter.
To save or copy a Preset:
Note: Saving and copying a Preset are mostly the same operation. The difference is that
saving a Preset will save it to the same/original Preset number while copying a Preset will save
it to a different Preset number.
1. Press Preset to enter Preset Mode.
2. Press the Right Cursor button. Store Program will appear in the display.
3. If you want to save it to the current Preset, press the Value Dial.
If you want to save/copy it to a different Preset, turn the Value Dial to select the desired
Preset number (Copy Program will appear in the display), and then press the Value Dial.
To cancel the operation, press Preset.
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To name or rename a Preset:
1. Press Preset to enter Preset Mode.
2. Press the Right Cursor button so Store Program appears in the display.
3. Press the Down Cursor button to select the Name field. The first letter of the name will
blink.
4. Turn the Value Dial to change the blinking character, and use the Left Cursor and Right
Cursor buttons to move between the characters.
5. To save the Preset name when you are finished, press the Value Dial.
To cancel the operation, press Preset.
To restore the factory default Presets:
1. Press Preset to enter Preset Mode.
2. Press the Left Cursor button so Factory Settings appears in the display.
3. Turn the Value Dial and select Presets.
4. To restore MPK225's factory default Presets (which overwrites those you have saved),
press the Value Dial.
To cancel the operation, press Preset.
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Edit Mode
In Edit Mode, you can edit the settings of the currently selected Preset. The
settings vary depending on the controller you are editing and are listed in the
Appendix: Mode Parameters section. Please note that the changes you make
will only apply to the currently selected Preset.
To navigate Edit Mode:
1. Press Edit to enter Edit Mode.
2. Select a control to edit (pad, button, etc.) by moving or pressing it. The selected control
and its editable parameters will appear in the display.
3. In each page of Edit Mode:
• Use the Up Cursor and Down Cursor buttons to move through the parameters on
the current page.
• If there are multiple pages (indicated by Pg1, Pg2, etc.), use the Left Cursor and
Right Cursor buttons to move between different pages.
• Turn the Value Dial to change the currently selected value/setting.
4. To edit more controls, repeat Steps 2–3.
To return to a normal performance mode, press Preset.
Important: Save the Preset to retain your edits. Without saving, these changes will be lost if
you load a new Preset. See the Preset Mode section to learn how save your Preset.
Each section of this chapter is dedicated to a specific control and lists its editable parameters.
For an overview of the available controls and parameters, see the Appendix: Mode
Parameters section.
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Keyboard
Important: Global Mode contains other parameters that affect the keyboard but are saved
only with global settings and not with the current Preset. See the Global Mode: Keyboard
section for more information.
MIDI Channel: This setting determines over which MIDI channel the messages are sent. The
available settings are Common, USB A1–A16, and USB B1–B16.
Octave: The keyboard's octave setting. The available range is -4 to +4, with 0 as the center
octave.
Transpose: The keyboard's transposition (in half-steps). The available range is -36 to +36,
with 0 as the center position (no transposition).
MIDI to DIN: This determines whether or not MIDI data is sent to the MIDI Out (On) or not
(Off). MIDI data will be sent to MPK225's USB connection regardless of this setting.
Aftertouch (Aft): This determines whether or not the keyboard sends Aftertouch messages
(On) or not (Off).
Important: Aftertouch refers to MIDI information sent when pressure is applied to a key after it
has been played and while it is being held down. Aftertouch is often used to control volume,
vibrato and other parameters.
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Pads
Important: Global Mode contains other parameters that affect the pads but are saved only
with the global settings, not with the Preset. See the Global Mode: Pads section for more
information.
Type: The type of message that will be sent. The available settings are Note, Program
Change, and Program Bank.
Tip: For more information about Program Change and Program Bank messages, please see
the Program Change Mode chapter of this guide.
MIDI Channel: This setting determines over which MIDI channel the messages are sent. The
available settings are Common, USB A1–A16, and USB B1–B16.
Note: If Note is the selected Type, this assigns the note number the pad will send when
played.
Aftertouch (Aft): This determines the pad's Aftertouch settings. The available options are Off,
Channel Aftertouch (Ch), and Poly Aftertouch (Poly).
Important: Aftertouch refers to MIDI information sent when pressure is applied to a pad after it
has been played and while it is being held down. Aftertouch is often used to control volume,
vibrato and other parameters. When set to Poly, the pad will transmit Aftertouch information
independently from the other pads. When set to Ch, all pads assigned to a particular MIDI
Channel will transmit Aftertouch information as a group (applying pressure to any pad
assigned to the same MIDI channel will send Aftertouch information).
Program Number (Pgm): If Program Change or Program Bank is the selected Type, this
determines the Program number. The available range is 000–127.
Tip: For more information about Program Change and Program Bank messages, please see
the Program Change Mode chapter of this guide.
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MSB / LSB: If Program Change or Program Bank is the selected Type, these determine the
MSB (Most Significant Bit) and LSB (Least Significant Bit). The available range is 000–127.
Tip: For more information about Program Change and Program Bank messages, please see
the Program Change Mode chapter of this guide.
MIDI to DIN: This determines whether or not MIDI data is sent to the MIDI Out (On) or not
(Off). MIDI data will be sent to MPK225's USB connection regardless of this setting.
On Color / Off Color: These determine what colors the pad will be when it is pressed (On) and
not pressed (Off). The available settings are Off, Red, Orange, Amber, Yellow, Green, Green
Blue, Aqua, Light Blue, Blue, Purple, Pink, Hot Pink, Light Purple, Light Green, Light Pink,
Grey.
Note Mode: If Note is the selected Type, this determines whether it is in Momentary Mode
(sends a Note On message only while pressed and held, sends a Note Off message when
released) or Toggle Mode (sends a continuous Note On message when pressed once, sends
the Note Off message when pressed once again).
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Assignable Knobs
Type: The type of message that will be sent. The available settings are MIDI CC, Aftertouch
(Aft), Increment/Decrement 1 (Inc/Dec1), and Increment/Decrement 2 (Inc/Dec2).
MIDI Channel: This setting determines over which MIDI channel the messages are sent. The
available settings are Common, USB A1–A16, and USB B1–B16.
CC Number: If MIDI CC or Inc/Dec2 is the selected Type, this determines the MIDI CC
number. The available range is 000–127.
MIDI to DIN: This determines whether or not MIDI data is sent to the MIDI Out (On) or not
(Off). MIDI data will be sent to MPK225's USB connection regardless of this setting.
Min / Max: If MIDI CC or Aft is the selected Type, these determine the lowest (Min) and
highest (Max) values. (If Min is higher than Max, the knob's polarity will be reversed.) The
available range is 000–127.
MSB / LSB: If Inc/Dec1 is the selected Type, these determine the MSB (Most Significant Bit)
and LSB (Least Significant Bit). The available range is 000–127.
Tip: For more information about Program Change and Program Bank messages, please see
the Program Change Mode chapter of this guide.
Value: If Inc/Dec1 is the selected Type, this determines the value sent by an Increment (CC
#96) or Decrement (CC #97) message. The available range is 000–127.
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